Majority of Nigerians who participated in a recent survey by NOI Polls have asked President Umaru Yar’Adua to legally transfer power to his deputy while he recovers from a heart condition in Saudi Arabia.
According to details of the poll, published by local newspapers Thursday, 74% of respondents feel that Yar’Adua’s continued absence will have dire consequences for Nigeria.
According to the poll, 29% of respondents believe the economy will suffer most, while 26 per cent think public administration, national security, implementation of the Niger Delta amnesty deal and the government’s seven-point agenda will be the worst hit.
NOI Polls partners world renowned Gallup Polls, which is based in the US.
President Yar’Adua has been away for the past 52 days without handing over to his deputy, in accordance with the constitution.
The failure to hand over has generated angry reactions across Nigeria, and at least four cases have been filed in court to challenge the action.
However, a federal high court sitting in the capital city of Abuja ruled Wednesday – in one of the cases – that the Vice President can exercise all the powers of the Presidency while his boss is away, though he cannot be designated ‘acting President’ until the President legally transfers power to him.
Those who filed the other cases immediately said they would proceed with them, a rguing that the ruling was too ambiguous.
On Tuesday, President Yar’Adua granted an interview to the BBC, in which he said he was recovering from his illness and would be back as soon as his doctors released him.
The interview, aimed at ending persistent rumours of the President’s death, has backfired, with critics slamming the President for choosing a foreign medium to address his compatriots.